Major Theft of Cooking Gas Cylinders in Mumbai Raises Concerns

In a concerning incident in Mumbai, thieves stole 27 cooking gas cylinders from a delivery vehicle in Kandivali West. The police have launched an investigation, registering a case against unknown suspects. The victim, a delivery agent, discovered the theft when he returned to his vehicle the next morning. With the total value of the stolen cylinders estimated at Rs 15,500, authorities are reviewing CCTV footage and questioning individuals linked to scrap markets. The police are optimistic about apprehending the culprits soon, given the seriousness of the crime.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 28, 2026, 12:02 IST

Theft Incident in Kandivali West

Mumbai, March 28: In a troubling incident amid fears of a cooking gas cylinder shortage in Mumbai, a significant theft occurred in the Charkop locality of Kandivali West. Unidentified thieves reportedly made off with 27 cylinders from a delivery vehicle after breaking into it, as confirmed by police on Saturday.

Officials reported that the theft took place during the night of March 25-26. The culprits targeted a tempo designated for gas distribution, stealing 27 cylinders, which included five filled and 22 empty ones.

The Mumbai Police have registered a case at the Charkop Police Station against unknown suspects and are actively working to identify and capture those responsible.

The victim, Nandkumar Ramraj Soni, aged 35, resides in Jai Janata Nagar, Malad West, and has been employed as a delivery agent with Shriji Gas Service in Charkop for seven years.

Soni typically delivers LPG cylinders directly to customers using a tempo, which serves as the main source of income for his family.

On the evening of March 25, he completed his usual delivery tasks and parked the tempo in Charkop around 11 P.M. before heading home. The vehicle was loaded with cylinders intended for the next day's distribution.

However, upon returning at approximately 8 A.M. on March 26, he discovered that the vehicle had been tampered with. The tempo's glass window was shattered, and the rear lock was broken.

Upon inspection, Soni realized that all the cylinders had been stolen, with the total estimated value of the loss around Rs 15,500.

Initially, he reached out to his colleagues to check if the cylinders had been relocated, but after receiving no updates, he decided to file a police report.

A police spokesperson indicated that several teams have been assembled to locate the suspects. CCTV footage from the vicinity has recorded suspicious individuals and vehicles, and efforts are underway to identify them.

Investigators are also probing connections to scrap markets and illegal gas trade networks to track down the stolen cylinders.

The police stated that the investigation is being conducted from all possible angles due to the gravity of the situation and expressed optimism that the culprits will be caught soon.